Competitive Field Complicates Election

August 4, 1985|By Rebecca Theim, Staff Writer

LANTANA — So many people are running in the upcoming Town Council election that two resigning members could be asked to continue to serve until a special election is held, just so the council could maintain a quorum.

Ten candidates -- three for mayor and seven for the two council seats being vacated by two of the mayoral candidates -- will run in Tuesday`s election, making runoffs possible in all three races.

Council member Dorothy Rissler and Vice Mayor Jim Seeley will resign from their seats, effective the day of the election, to run for the vacant mayoral post.

Former Mayor Henry Johnson resigned in June when he moved and no longer met the town`s residency requirements.

A third candidate, Robert McDonald, will make a runoff possible in the mayoral race.

With seven candidates vying for the two council seats being vacated, runoffs in those races also may be necessary.

With the mayoral seat already vacant and Rissler and Seeley`s resignation imminent, only two of the five members on the council are remaining in their own seats.

If it were necessary, town officials would have two weeks from the date of Tuesday`s election to hold a special election. If McDonald won the mayoral race, Rissler and Seeley would retain their council seats until their successors were decided in the runoff, Assistant Town Attorney Paul Nicoletti said.

If Rissler and Seeley were in a runoff for the mayoral seat and runoffs were necessary for both of their council seats, they would retain their council seats until all three elections were decided, Nicoletti said.

The mayoral seat would continue to be vacant, just as it has been since June.

If Rissler were elected mayor and Seeley`s seat went to a runoff, Seeley would continue to fill it until his successor was decided. And vice versa.

Running for the Group 3 seat being vacated by Rissler are:

(BU) Thomas McClure, 53, owner and operator of the Barefoot Mailman Motel and the Colonel`s Pawn & Gun Shop, both in Lantana.

(BU) Joseph Turley Sr., 54, a real estate salesman for Veterans Real Estate of Lantana. He also is licensed to practice law in New York state.